Panthers take care of Spalding in seven, 15-4

Feb 20, 2009

Game 1

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham-Southern (3-2) Panthers made short-work of the visiting Spalding (1-3) Golden Eagles in the opening game of a three-game series Friday.The Panthers 10-run-ruled the Eagles,15-4, improving their record to 3-2 on the young season.

The game was all offense, with a combined 25 hits on the day.The Panthers used an 8-run fifth to put the game out of reach, but that was only a sampling of the scoring for the game.The Eagles got things started early.#John Naramore# walked the lead-off batter who then advanced on a fielder’s choice by Mike Millsap.The run was scored off the Panther’s sole error, putting the Eagles up 1-0.

The Panthers answered with three singles in the bottom half of the inning to even the game at a run apiece.The scoring continued in the top of the second with two more Eagle runs before Naramore settled down.The Panthers’ #Drew Leachman# scored in the bottom of the third off a sacrifice bunt from #Bryan Higginbotham#.#Darby Weppner# drove in #Sam Hill# on the next batter to retie the ballgame at three.

The Eagles’ final run of the contest came in the top of the forth, but the Panthers answered again with two of their own in the bottom half.The game might have continued like that into the late innings, but the Panthers exploded for eight runs on six hits in the bottom of the fifth that blew the game wide open.Of the six hits only Weppner’s inning-leading double went for more than a single.There were no homeruns in a game that saw 19 runs cross the plate.

John Naramore (1-0) earned his first win of the season with his effort today.He allowed four runs on six hits in five innings before #Alex Goodsell came in for the final two innings.Justin Penland took the loss for the Eagles giving up nine runs on 13 hits in four innings.The Panther hurlers combined for seven strikeouts on the night to only three for the Spalding staff.

The three-game series continues tomorrow from Striplin Field.First pitch of the double-header is slated for noon.